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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-23 Daily Xml
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SAFEWORK SA

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Can he explain how SafeWork SA has assisted to ensure the safety of workers and members of the public at Adelaide's recent major events, particularly the Clipsal 500?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:48): I thank the Hon. Mr Wortley for his question. As we are all aware, since January Adelaide has come alive as the season of major events grips the city with excitement, festivity and culture. Events have included the Santos Tour Down Under, the Big Day Out and, most recently, the Clipsal 500, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Garden of Unearthly Delights and WOMADelaide. Once again, these events have proved very successful for South Australia.

As we know, a safe event makes a successful event, and SafeWork SA staff have been busy reviewing safety provisions to ensure the wellbeing of the general public, on-site workers, contractors and volunteers involved with these major events. SafeWork SA inspectors have on-site liaison with organisers of each of these events to guarantee a consistent approach to compliance with occupational health, safety and welfare and dangerous substances laws.

For instance, prior to the Clipsal 500, SafeWork SA staff attended pre-event meetings with representatives from the SA Motor Sport Board and all emergency services groups, including South Australia Police, as well as the company coordinating course infrastructure. These meetings enabled SafeWork SA to ensure that the Clipsal 500 organisers had detailed management plans in place to effectively address potential occupational health and safety and public safety risks throughout the duration of the event.

In the lead-up to the Clipsal 500, inspectors also monitored the construction of all temporary structures, grandstand seating and various scaffolding around the track. Part of this activity involved monitoring the extensive use of high-risk plant and sighting compliance records from the certifying engineers before the commencement of the event. SafeWork SA inspectors were also on site late Sunday afternoon for the commencement of the pull-down.

Inspectors are aware of the many hazards that are presented by the nature of this event and worked closely with event organisers to ensure that any risk to employees, volunteers and the general public were minimised. With the completion of the Clipsal 500, inspectors will continue to monitor the breakdown phase over the next few weeks as the infrastructure is dismantled.

SafeWork SA was pleased with the measures taken by event organisers, who continue to work on improving their commitment to safety every year. A follow-up meeting will be organised by SafeWork SA with the Motor Sport Board and the infrastructure and OHS company as part of the ongoing consultative arrangement to ensure that improvements in safety continue.

A similar process of safety planning and checking delivered by inspectors for the Clipsal 500 was also implemented with organisers of WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Garden of Unearthly Delights, with inspectors attending the various sites during the week leading into the start of the particular event to ensure compliance.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival was conducted at various indoor and outdoor locations around Adelaide and the East End Parklands. The Garden of Unearthly Delights contained various food and retail outlets and a number of amusement structures. WOMADelaide, held over the March long weekend, included several stages for various performers, food and retail outlets and some amusement structures.

I thank SafeWork SA inspectors and commend their work during these major events. I am sure their activities made a significant contribution to ensuring the event's success while being mindful of the health and safety of those involved in working at the events and of the general public who attended.

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